AZ Senate Votes to Defund Planned Parenthood

Washington, DC ─ Today, the Susan B. Anthony List (SBA List), a national pro-life organization, praised the Arizona State Senate for passing the Whole Woman’s Health Funding Priority Act of Arizona (HB 2800) that will defund abortion providers such as Planned Parenthood of state family planning money in a 18-8 vote. The bill is based on model legislation developed by the SBA List and the Alliance Defense Fund, which prioritizes family planning funds away from abortion-centered businesses like Planned Parenthood to entities that provide women with comprehensive health care.

“Planned Parenthood’s abortion-centered business model does not need or deserve taxpayer dollars,” said Rep. Marilyn Musgrave, Vice President of Government Affairs for SBA List. “We encourage Gov. Brewer to quickly sign this bill into law. Arizona is leading the charge to protect taxpayers and women from Planned Parenthood and the violence of abortion.”

The SBA List has led the charge to defund Planned Parenthood in the states following last year’s Congressional battle, offering state groups and legislators model legislation, expert testimony, and grassroots muscle. In 2011, eight states successfully defunded Planned Parenthood of more than $61.7 million. This year, with the help of the SBA List, Ohio, Iowa, New Hampshire, and Oklahoma have taken on Planned Parenthood’s tax funding in addition to Arizona.

In February, the SBA List joined the Center for Arizona Policy, Arizona Right to Life, and other local groups to host two “Women Speak Out: Defund Planned Parenthood” press conferences in front of local Planned Parenthood abortion clinics to draw attention to the organization’s abortion-centered business and calling for the passage of the bill.

The press conferences came a day after Chuck Donovan, President of the Charlotte Lozier Institute, the education and research arm of the SBA List, testified before the Arizona House Health Committee in favor of the bill in coordination with the Center for Arizona Policy.

The Susan B. Anthony List, and its connected Political Action Committee, the SBA List Candidate Fund, are dedicated to electing candidates and pursuing policies that will reduce and ultimately end abortion. To that end, the SBA List will emphasize the election, education, promotion, and mobilization of pro-life women.